Israeli defence minister threatens to quit

The leader of Israel’s Labour party has threatened to quit the coalition government over resistance to his plans to dismantle illegal Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories.

Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said he was considering the move after Cabinet ministers, many of whom support the settlers, verbally attacked him for launching the mission against the outposts during Saturday’s Jewish Sabbath.

Local media also said the minister has been warned that extremist Jews might try to kill him. Deputy Defence Minister Weizman Shiri said Ben-Eliezer’s personal security detail was on heightened alert.

Meanwhile, the security forces and the settlers appeared set for another confrontation at the illegal outpost of Havad Gilad, near Nablus.

Soldiers tore down the flimsy structures overnight, but the settlers returned today and began putting the corrugated iron sheets back up.

Elsewhere, police reported clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians near the Shvut Rachel settlement, 12 miles south of Nablus.

Radio reports said Israeli farmers’ fields and three Palestinian cars were on fire. There was no immediate word on casualties.

Police and soldiers have repeatedly scuffled with demonstrators in recent days at the illegal outpost at Havad Gilad.

The settlers burned tyres yesterday and then threw punches and water bottles at the security forces in a bid to keep them off the hilltop outpost, where a handful of settlers lived for several months.

Ben-Eliezer is heading the drive to remove the settlements as part of preparations for any Mideast peace deal.